Fumigator.



F. M. GILBERT.

FUMIGATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12. 1913. 1,151,353. Patented AW. 24, 1915.

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FRANK IvI. GILBERT, or Damon, ILLiNOIS.

rUMIGAToB.

Specification of Letters P aitent.

Patented An 24., 1915.

Application filed December 12, 1913. Serial No; 806,171. 2

To all whom it-ma-g concern Be it known that I, FRANK M. GILBERT, a

citizen of therUnited States, and. a resident of the city of Oregon, county of, Ogle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fumigators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to. fumigating devices, and more specificallyto that class thereof designed for use especially in greenhouses for' exterminating insects, lice and other destructive bugs found upon the leaves of plants and which if permitted to flourish injure or destroy the plant.

The object of my invention is the. productron of a fumigator, as mentioned, which.

will be durable and economical in construction, and through the medium of which the fumigation of a greenhouse .may be thoroughly and affectively effected.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fumi gator embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a central vertical section thereof, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the fumigator.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawin comprises a receptacle consisting of a circular or cylindrical lateral wall 1 formed of a heavy wire mesh or hardware cloth. The upper end of the receptacle is closed by a circular imperforate plate 2 and at the lower end of said lateral wall is provided a reinforcing ring or band 3. A plurality of longitudinally extending straps 4: are provided which extend along the lateral wall 1 eXteriorly thereof for reinforcement, said straps being secured to the top wall member 2 and the ring 3 by means of rivets 5. Said rivets 5 also serve to secure the lateral wall 1 to the member 2 and ring 3, the resulting construction possessing great firmness and rigidity. Upon the upper side of the top wall 2 is provided a turn down handle 6 whereby the fumigator may be readily transported or moved from place to place.-

The lower end of the receptacle is open, the bottom 7 thereof being hingedly secured at 7 to one of the reinforcing straps 4: in order to permit ofaccess being gained to the interior of said receptacle, as will be readily understood. A spring latch or keeper 8 cooperates with the bottom 7 to releasably lock the same in closed position. Said bottom is provided with an upwardly extending peripheral flange so as to adapt said bottom to serve in the capacity of an ash receptacle during operation of the fumigatcr, the ashes of the consumed tobacco stems whichare used in the receptacle in operation being adapted for reception in said bottom to thus prevent spreading upon the floor or other surface upon which the device is arranged.

Arranged centrally upon the upper side of the bottom 7 is an elongated torch 9 consisting of an elongated hollow body secured in positlon by straps 10, a wick of asbestos or other; suitable material being provided. within sald body; The upper side of said" torch body is perforated so as to permit of ets issuing therefrom in the operation of the fumigator. The bottom 7 is perforated as shown, so as to permit of the draining of water therefrom during the operation of the fumigator in the manner described in the following@ In the operation of the fumigator, the receptacle is first packed full of tobacco stems, such packing being of course permitted through the lower end of the receptacle by reason of the hinged mounting of the bottom 7. After the arrangement of the tobacco stems in the receptacle, the latter is inverted, and the lower end thereof immersed in'water. The handle 6 is of the turn down type in order to permit of the receptacle being stood on its upper end, when inverted, as will be readily understood. In this immersion of the receptacle about threefourths of the contents'thereof will be saturated with water. After the tobacco stems have been thoroughly saturated, the receptacle is removed from the water and again placed upright, the tobacco stems in the lower end thereof being dry, not having been immersed. In this immersion of the upper end of the device, about two quarts of water will be absorbed by the tobacco stems. After removal from the water, the saturated stems are permitted to drain, the water draining therefrom passing downwardly into the dry stems below effecting simply a dampening of the latter. Some of the water will pass completely through the contents of the receptacle and into the hotthe lower end of the device.

tom 7, being permitted to drain from the latter through the openings which are: provided therein for this purpose. The torch 9 is now lighted which of course ignites the dryer slightly moistened tobacco stems in The heato-f the combustion below effects vaporization of the water contained in the saturated stems above and this vapor, which is laden with nicotin together with a dense smoke Whichwill be emitted from the burning tobacco stems at the base ofv the device, permeating the atmosphere of the room and effecting the destruction of any insects with which the same may be brought into contact. The combination of the nicotin vapor which is emitted from the dampened tobacco stems above,and the dense smoke which isemitted from the dry tobacco stems below, produces a very effective insect destroyer and without injuring the plants themselves. As above mentioned, in the saturation of. the tobacco stems in the upper end of the receptacle about two quarts of water is ab sorbed and which, when heated through the combustion below, results in the formationof a considerable quantity of nicotin ladened vapor, as will be readily understood.

After the torch has been lighted, as above mentioned, the fumigator is entirely automatic in its operation, the tobacco stems being gradually consumed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

While I have, illustrated and described the preferred form of constructionfor carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification math- I out departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to 'the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to'avail myself of such' -1. A fumigator comprising a receptacle having openings inthe walls; thereof; a

closure movably mounted at one-end of said receptacle through which access may be gained to the nterior thereof; and an ignltmg element secured to the upper side of said closure, substantially as described.

2. A fum'igator comprising a receptacle having openings in the lateral walls thereof and being open at its lower end; a closure hmgedly mounted at said end of said receptacle through which access be gained to the interior of said receptacle? means for releasably locking said closure in closed position; and an elongated torch secured centrally upon the upper side of said closure, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my vname to this specification 1n the presence of two subscribing witnesses. V

FRANK M. GILBERT.

Witnesses:

MARTHA SoHRoEDnR, BERT S. DUZAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfivc cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Bate'nts,

Washington, D. C. 

